Demon Disciple

Agree Gonzo, amateur hour indeed. Schwab has done some good things for the MFC as CEO, but he also has done things not so well (sponsorship being one of them). I have for quite a while now held the view that choosing Schwab over Fox as CEO is just as big a stuff-up as selecting Lucas Cook over Darling.

How is it that he never won a Brownlow? And bloody DiPierdomenico gets one! Best and Fairest player in the competition my ass.

Indeed they were. I remember at the time we were reluctant to offer any contracts in excess of 3 years. We yielded, foolishly so.

Think it was a 4-year contract, but agree with you. Held us over a barrel and got his big contract he demanded, but has done stuff all since. Should bow out and return the favour to a very generous MFC.

Rookie draft happens after the PSD.

Or maybe it could be to ride shotgun with new recruit Dean Kent, back to Melbourne.

Give it a week or two, and a few reports on training in which we seem to be progressing really well. There will be posters' bemoaning the length of the pre-season, given their excitement for the season ahead. The season finally gets underway, which after only a few short weeks, starts to not go as hoped. Next comes the pleas for the pain to end, with prayers for said season to quickly come to horrible conclusion. The final stage is the wait between end of season and the trade/draft period, where optimism and excitement is once again restored. It is all a too familiar feeling, with many unfortunate souls continually getting sucked in, with some pessimists getting pulled along for the ride, yet some remain steadfast in their refusal to see the light. It is the MFC seasonal cycle in all it's beauty. A very vicious one indeed, and not for the faint hearted!!!

If Toumpas had hip problems, somehow i doubt he'd be able to jump around like that.

He might fit the '4 pills' criteria!

FWIW, i just asked my mum who we should pick up at pick 4. She doesn't give a rats about AFL, nor the draft. She believes we should pick up Ollie Wines, when i asked why, she stated because she likes his name (she is not an alcoholic). Not much, but she currently has the hot hand, given she was the only one to back Green Moon in the Melbourne Cup in our family, where again she just picked him on a whim.

If the unlikely situation of both Wines and Toumpas are gone, i wouldn't mind bringing in Grundy. Not only can he play as a big forward as well, but aside from our needs in the middle, our ruck stocks aren't exactly all that flash. Jamar is not getting any younger, plus has only had one good year (back in 2010), Gawn is no sure thing, Martin has been traded, Spencer i still don't rate all that highly, and Fitzpatrick well.............. There is Clark, but he is our KPF, plus i don't think the club is being totally honest with us, re:his foot injury. Grundy would become our 2nd best ruckman, almost best ruckman, the moment he might get drafted by us. We'd then need to make it our mission to bring in nothing but quality midfielders for the next 2-3 years.

I think it's fair to say that Wines will be our pick #4. Of course, we get Viney at 27, but what's left? I'd love for us to get our hands on Nick Rippon at our next pick (50ish). Hopefully he will still be there.

Tom needs to work on his disposal and decision-making. The latter i expect to improve as he gains more experience, should he be able to really improve his disposal, then he would just about be the next up and coming back-man in the league. Get him into the gym over the enxt few seaons to really build a body and strength to go with his tank, he could be anything! We've had could've been anythings' before, lets see how Mark Neeld goes with such players!

Well he can't do much worse than our most recent (excluding Viney Snr) recruiting manager. I take that back. He can't do any worse than our most recent recruiting manager.

My thoughts went straight to Newman!!!

a running track around the botanic gardens.

That's the beauty of a long-term injury for a younger kid. Provided they are able to get over the initial injury, it allows them to build a frame for AFL quicker than say a kid who plays the majority of the season. I simply salivate at the prospect of what Misson will be able to do with Hogan over 2 pre-seasons.

If he is there at our picks near the 50's, i'd give him a go. Don't know why, but i always loved having an Indigenous presence at our club. Farmer, Whelan, Davey, Wonaeamirri, Jurrah. Give him a go!

Well one CW has been much less vocal these past few days, in fact she hasn't been sighted in the Age newspaper since her extremely personal piece in Saturday's paper.

Boasting about draft picks, well FMD. When in a position to gain a high draft pick, it obviously means your team has had a lousy year. The high draft pick would be one of the very few highlights of the year. How dare we try and be positive with the hope that said high draft pick will help gain us a good player. What else are we going to hang our hat on, in such a crap year.

If that senile old goat can see anything and everything that's coming, why did he not see Israel Folau's failure as an AFL footy player coming? Struggling to get his last few breaths before he finally goes under.

It's written by Jon Ralph, enough said.

Funny how one CW finds it less of an offense to tank only for .5 hour as opposed to a game or 2. This woman is full of double standards, a hypocrite. Her rage continues to blind her from sound logic and thought, removing whatever integrity she had (which, after reading a certain article recently over her thoughts on disabled people and sport, is non-existent). And she has the gall to label the MFC as shocking and awful! Might want to worry about improving your own ways, before belittling others Caro.

Yep, no chance of it happening. Although, i'd like the MFC to still look after these boys. Making sure that there is still regular contact between all 3 of Davey, Jurrah and Wona. Both Aussie and Liam have been through difficult times recently, and whilst with Melbourne they were both mentored and had a great relationship with Flash. If the MFC is truly concerned with these boys well-being, which they undoubtedly are, they'll ensure that through the MFC these 3 will always be connected and maintain a strong friendship. Tanking and all that other bs aside, our club continues to ensure that friendship outside of the footy club continues. That's what a footy club is really about, camaraderie.

It's specualtive what may happen to us, re: draft picks, whether this year or future years. Thus casting in doubt which direction we should go come draft time, not knowing if it may be our last decent pick for a while. Do we go with the outside skill and pace we crave, or the crash and bash physicality that Neeld wants and appears the direction in which footy is heading? It's a tough choice, but contested ball is king. The first team to get their hands on the ball, gains the advantage. Sydney showed this over Hawthorn's polish in the GF. We simply must draft Wines. Sure Toumpas is an absolute gem of a player too, i'd have him ahead of Wines currently, plus his scope for improvement is greater, imo. However, going by this article, http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/todd-viney-well-aware-of-the-competitive-nature-of-potential-draftee-ollie-wines/story-e6frf9io-1226509826657, Wines wants to play for us! Despite all that's going on around us, he still wants to play for us with his best mate. There is but no other choice than Wines. This one excerpt alone, is the reason why we need him. "One club scout recently said if Wines landed at Melbourne there would be "explosions" in the centre square, adamant the pair were the toughest inside midfielders in the draft pool."